A New Chapter for Barwell Motorsport
The 2025 British GT season is set to see some significant changes, particularly at the reigning champion team, Barwell Motorsport. The team, which dominated the 2024 season, has announced a shake-up in its driver line-up. Ricky Collard, the reigning British GT champion, is unlikely to return for the upcoming campaign. Instead, his father Rob Collard will team up with the promising young driver Hugo Cook in the #1 Lamborghini Huracan GT3. This move marks a significant shift for the team and raises questions about the future of Ricky Collard in the championship.
Ricky Collard’s Absence and the Challenges Ahead
Ricky Collard, 28, achieved a remarkable feat by clinching the British GT title in his rookie season, partnering with his father Rob. However, funding issues, first reported by Autosport the day after his title victory, appear to be the primary reason for his absence. Despite this setback, Collard Jr. has left a lasting impression on the series, and his absence will be keenly felt. The 2025 season will see Cook, a 20-year-old who also competed in his rookie season in 2024, stepping into the spotlight. Cook, who finished 13th in the standings alongside Sacha Kakad in the J&S Racing Audi R8 GT3, is eager to prove himself in the highly competitive British GT series.
Hugo Cook’s Ambitious Goals
Hugo Cook is well aware of the opportunity and the pressure that comes with driving the #1 Lamborghini Huracan GT3. "I’m massively excited for this year, and I’m fully aware of what an opportunity this is; joining the best team on the grid, in the number one car alongside the reigning champion," Cook said. "It definitely brings some pressure, but that’s also how you prove yourself, by going into situations like this and doing the job. I learned a lot from my first season in British GT and this year is about putting all of those lessons into practice and going for the title, which undoubtedly has to be the aim for us." Cook’s ambition is clear, and he is determined to make the most of this opportunity.
The Experience of Rob Collard
Rob Collard, now a two-time series champion, is looking forward to his new partnership with Cook. "I’d have loved to come back alongside Ricky, but that wasn’t possible," Collard Sr said. "I’m really looking forward to working with Hugo. He’s a young up-and-coming driver with huge promise, and I hope I can use my experience to teach him a few things while learning from him at the same time." Collard Sr’s experience and leadership will be invaluable to Cook, and their partnership could prove to be a powerful combination on the track.
Changes in the #78 Huracan
The #78 Huracan, which finished runner-up to the sister Barwell car in the 2024 season despite claiming more wins, also sees some changes. Alex Martin returns for the full nine-round season, but his 2024 co-driver Sandy Mitchell will miss the races at Silverstone, Spa, and Brands Hatch due to unavailability. Replacing Mitchell will be Patrick Kujala, who has previous experience with Barwell and finished runner-up in the 2020 British GT series. "It’s a shame not to be able to do the full schedule, but Patrick is a driver I know very well from our GT World Challenge programmes and he’s more than capable of stepping in and getting the job done," Mitchell said. Martin is confident that the team has the ingredients to compete for the championship once again. "Having come so close to winning the championship in my first season last year, I have real confidence coming into this season that we have all the ingredients to get the job done this time around," he added.
Team Boss Mark Lemmer’s Outlook
Mark Lemmer, the team boss of Barwell Motorsport, reflects on the incredible success of the 2024 season, which saw the team win five of nine races and secure the teams’ championship. "The 2024 season was simply incredible for us," Lemmer said. "But equally that puts the pressure on us to come back and perform again this season. Winning in a championship as tight as British GT is never easy, and nothing can be taken for granted, but I am certain that we have the team and drivers in place to compete at the front once again." The 2025 season will be the final year for the Huracan before the team transitions to the new Temerario model, adding another layer of excitement to the campaign.
Preparing for the 2025 Season
The 2025 British GT season will kick off at Donington Park on April 5-6, with the same venue hosting the season finale on October 4-5. With 12 cars confirmed for the new season, including the return of Ferrari after a five-year hiatus, the competition is set to be fiercer than ever. Barwell Motorsport, with its new driver line-up and the experience of Rob Collard, will be a team to watch as they aim to defend their title and continue their legacy in the series.
